A LEADING clergyman has spent £10,000 of church funds to prop up a cash-strapped charity that offers vital help to some of the city's poorest people.

Southampton city centre parish rector, the Rev Ian Johnson, warned that the needy could be left starving on the streets if SCRATCH is forced to close.

It would leave thousands of the city's more hard-up residents high and dry without key services.

Horrified bosses were today coming to terms with filling a £40,000 hole in the charity's accounts. They have blamed red tape for delaying grants of £500,000.

SCRATCH - Southampton City and Region Action To Combat Hardship - provides food, clothing, furniture and kitchen equipment. It gives meals to the city's homeless and helps victims of domestic abuse with emergency moves.

The five-year-old charity has set up a Santa's Grotto at Christmas to distribute toys to hundreds of underprivileged children. Last year SCRATCH helped 13,500 people, all on a budget of £500,000 from grants and donations.

The city centre parish has already cashed in £10,000 of investments left over from land sales so the charity can continue its work.

Mr Johnson, who is a director of the charity, said: "We will lose money - probably £500 because it is a bad time to sell but it is that important. I am extremely concerned.

"SCRATCH is absolutely vital and the services rely on it to feed and clothe and house thousands of people.

"If you take SCRATCH away I think you'll find people starving on the streets."

SCRATCH bosses are appealing for a £50,000 interest-free loan for six months to tide them over the worst of the crisis.

Founder and chief executive, Chris Davis, said: "Technically we could fold but I am determined it won't come to that

"It is a short-term problem because the funding is there but technically it could all go pear-shaped. We've had that problem with two major pieces of funding that are worth £500,000 over three years. That's a third of our funding."

He said the charity had no plans to lay off any of its 24 paid staff because of the crippling funding delays.

Mr Davis called on businesses to come to SCRATCH's rescue.

"There are all sorts of imaginative ways to get involved with us and we are happy to advertise the companies that support us."

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

For the price of a chocolate bar a cup of coffee a day, SCRATCH can feed 37 people. The charity can set up easy monthly direct debit payments.

The charity also needs volunteers and furniture, clothes and food.

To get involved contact 023 8077 3132.